Leaving this spot at an early hour, we went to Point St. Ignace to breakfast, and made the traverse to the Island of Michilimackinac by eleven o’clock.  We were greeted by a number of persons on the beach; among them was Mr. Agnew, of the Sault, who reported friends all well.  This was a great relief to my mind, as I had been for a number of days under the impression that some one near and dear to me was ill.  It was Sunday morning; many of the inhabitants were at church, and appearances indicated more respect for the day than I recollect to have noticed before.  The good effect of the mission established in the island, under the auspices of the Rev. Mr. Ferry, are clearly visible.  Mr. Robert Stuart invited me to take a room at the company’s house, which I declined, but dined and supped there.

CHAPTER XXV.

Journey from Mackinac to the Sault Ste. Marie—­Outard Point—­Head winds—­Lake Huron in a rage—­Desperate embarkation—­St. Vital—­Double the Detour—­Return to St. Mary’s—­Letters—­“Indian girl”—­New volume of travels—­Guess’ Cherokee alphabet—­New views of the Indian languages and their principles of construction—­Georgia question—­Post-office difficulties—­Glimpses from the civilized world.

1825. Sept. 5th.  I arose at seven, and we had breakfast at half-past seven.  I then went to the Company’s store and ordered an invoice of goods for the Indian department.  This occupied the time till dinner was announced.  I then went to my camp and ordered the tent to be struck and the canoe to be put into the water; but found two of my men so ill with the fever and ague that they could not go, and three others were much intoxicated.  The atmosphere was very cloudy and threatening, and to attempt the traverse to Goose Island, under such circumstances, was deemed improper.  Mr. Robert and David Stuart, men noted in the Astoria enterprise; Mr. Agnew, Capt.  Knapp, Mr. Conner, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Currey, &c., had kindly accompanied me to the beach, but all were very urgent in their opinion that I should defer the starting.  I ordered the men to be ready at two o’clock in the morning should the weather not prove tempestuous.

6th.  I arose at three o’clock, but found a heavy fog enveloping the whole island, and concealing objects at a short distance.  It was not till half-past six that I could embark, when the fog began to disperse, but the clearing away of the fog introduced a light head wind.  I reached Goose Island, a distance of ten miles, after a march of three hours, and afterwards went to Outard Point, but could go no further from the increased violence of the wind.